The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-07-14
DOES PROHIBITION PROHIBIT!
QUESTION, s'Y ES, IN ATLANTA.''
Property in the City Has Increased Over
Two Million DOllarS...The Showing is
Remarkable One in Every Respect.

The election at which Prohibition was
put on trial in this city is entitled To a
place among great events. No election
of a local nature was ever before held in
a city of sixty thousand people. in which
more was involved. The changes propos-
ed by it were SO radical us to be almost
revolutionary. Over a hundred business
houses were to be closed Nearly five
hundred men were TO be forced to give up
a chosen employment. The city treasury
was 10 be left with forty thousand dollars
less revenue. Trade amounting annually
to millions was to be turned away from
the city. Many large business houses
We're to be left unrented. OF course, a
movement proposing measures so radical
met with the most spirited and determined
opposition. Many of our best citizens re-
garded it with outspoken disfavor.
1t was said that Prohibition in a city SO
large as this was impracticabe, that it
would not prohibit, that the trade would
be injured, that taxes would be increased
that the stores III which the liquor busi-
ness was carried on would not be rented
for other purposes, that the same amount
of whiskey would be drank with the law
as without it, the city would only miss the
revenue, that it would be a death blow to
Atlantas S progress.
1t has now been eighteen months since
the election, and twelve months since the
law Went into effect. We are prepared
thus from observation to note results.
Prohibition in this city does prohibit
The law is observed as we'll as the law
against carrying concealed weapons, gam
bling, theft and other otfenses of like
character. If there had been as many
people in favor of carrying concealed
weapons, theft, gambling, etc, as there
6 g .,,.,t-
twelve months ago. law against these
things would not have been carried out as
well as it was against the liquor trade.
In consideration of the small majority
with which Prohibition was carried, and
the large number of people who were OPP
posed to seeing it prohibit, the law has
been marvelousiy well observed.
Prohibition has not injured the city
financially. According to the assessors
books property in the city has increased
over two millions of dollars Taxes have
not been increased. Two streets Decatur
and Peters, We're known as liquor streets
1t was hardly considered proper for a lady
to walk these streets without an escort.
Now they are ust as orderly as any in the
city Property on them has advanced
from 10 to p per cent. The loss of forty
thousand dollars revenue, consequent on
closing the saloons, has tended in no de-
gree TO impede the clty's progress III any
direction Large appropriations have been
made to the water works, the public
schools, the Piedmont fair and other I'M
pruvements. The business men have rails
ed $40, 900 to build the Atlanta and Haw-
kinsville railroad. The number of city
banks are to be increased to five. The
coming of four new railroads has been
settled during the year Fifteen new
II: A.
have been started since Prohibition went
into effect These are doing we'll More
furniture has been sold to mechanics and
laboring men II the last twelve months
than in any twelve months during the
history of the city. The manufacturing
establishments Of the city have received
new life. y glass factory has been built.
\ cotton seed oil mill is being built worth
s125 900. All Improvement companies
with basis in real estate have seen their
stock double in value since the election on
Prohibition.
Stores in which the liquor trade was
conducted are not vacant, but are now
occupied by other lines of trade. Accord
ing to the real estate men more laborers
and men of limited means are buying lots
than ever before. Rents are more prompt
ly paid than formerly. More houses are
rented by the same number of families
than heretofore Before Prohibition. some
times as many as three families lived in
the same house The heads Of those fami-
lies now not spending their money for
drink are each able to rent house, thus
using three instead of one. Working men
who formerly spent great part Of their
money for liquor, now spend it in food
and clothes for their families. The retail
grocery men sell more goods and collect
H.. T.; l., ~ 1of
they are able to settle more promptly with
the wholesale men.
A perceptble increase is noticed in the
number of people who ride on the street
cars. According to the coal dealers, many
people bought coal and stored it away last
winter who had never been known to do
so before. Others who had been aocus-
toned to buying two or three tons on
time. this last winter bought seven or
eight and paid cash for it. A leading
proprietor of millinery store said that he
had sold more hats and bonnets to labor
ing men for their wives and daughters than
| in the history of his business Contracto. S
say their men do better work, and on
Saturday evenings when they receive their
weeks wages, spend the same for flour,
hams, dry goods, or other necessary things
for their families. Thus they are in better
spirits, have more hope and are not in
clined to strike and growl about higher
wages.
Attendance upon the public scheols has
| increased. The Superintendent of Public
instruction said in his report to the Board
of Education, made January 1st, 1887:
''During the past year it has become a
subject of remark by teachers in the
schools and by visitors, that the children
were more tidy, were better dressed, were
better shod, and presented a neater ap-
pearance than ever before. Less trouble
has been experienced in having parents
purchase books required by the rules.
fewer children have been withdrawn to
aid in supporting the family, the higher
classes in the grammar schools, have been
fuller, and more children have been pro
NOTED to the high schools, both male and
female, than ever before in the history OF
the schools. All these indications point to
the increased prosperity of the city, and
to the growing interest in the cause OF
education on the part of the people,
There has been a marked increase In
attendance upon the Sunday schools OF
the city. This is especially noticeable
among the suburban churches. Many
children have started to the Sunday
schools who were not able to attend fol
want of proper clothing Attendance upon
the different churches is far better. From
fifteen hundred to two thousand people
have Joined the various churches of tho
city during the year.
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